Prayer Has Power at Any Age

Talk is Cheap
You may be familiar with the name Chida Warren-Darby. Not only is she a San Diego newspaper published, moreover she is a parent, and a Godly one at that. As a parent, she found herself with the challenge of rearing a child in a Godly home. Watching your child play, regardless of their age, you will notice they prepare themselves for prayer, just like we do- how do you? Remember, children mimic their parent or guardian in the ways we do things, and praying is one of those things. So if are acquainted with

~ Proverbs 22:6, Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

As many people will call themselves a Christian leader in their home, but fail to lead. Talk is cheap when you are held accountable for the soul of a child. And Chida Warren-Darby knew this. She was raised in a Christian home, the daughter of a preacher. She learned how to pray as she watched her parents. Following their lead, she put a few tools together with teaching her boys to pray, and with growing frustration she realized fairly quickly, she would need to spend some time in prayer, before she did this.

Power in Written Prayer
Unable to find what she felt she needed to accomplish her goal, Chida still felt equal to the task, and she considered the effectiveness of her trade. As a publisher, she put pen to paper, and wrote. She entitled her book with the one thing she was sure of, “My Prayers Have Power” and began to develop her characters out of her own children, who were ages five and seven.

She created illustrations, prayer lists, and a journey for the reader; the story-line carried them through page after page of prayer lists; all which could be filled in with colored pencils or crayons. Chida wanted the books to be in the format of a child’s thoughts and feelings. Some children ask for things of material value; some ask for cures to cancer so they never lose a friend or child at their school. How old are your children? What do you think they would pray for?

“My Prayers Have Power” was written to open a door for children; an opening for their eyes to see the needs of others; an opening for hands to reach for those around them in love; an opening for their ears to hear the hurts and needs of others; and the opening of their mouths to call upon the Lord in prayer. Chida imparts, “God is our Heavenly Father, and though they are little people, we need to understand that children’s needs are just as serious to God as our own. Children need to be taught that they too walk in the same God given authority that adults have been given, when it comes to praying and making petitions, and the same way our children come to us, is the way we should go to God, also teaching children to do the same. “

There may be some of you thinking, “Well, that would have been great when my kids were five and seven, but I have teens, and it’s harder to explain, especially when you have crayons and colored pencils. Those are pretty age appropriate. Teens have power in their prayers too. They too, need an example to follow to be reminded of how to pray, as well as the types of thing you should ask for in prayer. Teens are full of “muscle” and what they put forth through prayer and trust in the power of those prayers, is voluminous. This goes back once again to how you pray. Talk with your teen, and let them know it is okay to talk to God in their own words. God knows your heart, so trying to be anything or anyone other than “you”, is pointless.

Our Two Cents;
God has promised us many times throughout the Bible that nothing is impossible through HIM. We must always be obedient to the Lord. We must listen, and we must let HIM hear our voice. The Bible speaks to us and from God it says in the book of Ephesians, Chapter 6, Verse 18.

Many people will tell you they may not know how to pray, or when they pray, they never get an answer. Maybe they don’t know how to listen. As that is usually the case, when someone does not realize the power of communicating with God through prayer. It is not what you ask for, or what you release; It is not the amount of time you spend in prayer or how often you pray; it Is not the person praying.

I have heard some people say, I don’t pray like that. I have done some bad things, and I don’t know if God will listen to me. God WILL ALWAYS LISTEN WHEN HIS CHILDREN CALL. We have all sinned and we all fall short of the glory of God. God, our Father, sent HIS only Son, Jesus, to satisfy the judgment for us. Jesus lived a sinless life, and HE loved us so much that HE died on the cross for our sins. HE was buried, and HE rolled the stone away, and HE rose from the dead. Do you believe in your heart, when you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you would be saved from judgment and you would spend eternity with God in heaven? If you know this is true and you feel this in your heart, then you will feel this when you pray. Yes, you may have sinned, since you have made this commitment to God, but HE is listening for you to ask HIM to forgive you, and for you to know you, that when you ask for HIS forgiveness, it will be so. This is the God you are praying to- Our God in heaven, a God who is so powerful, and who always has your needs first. These needs may not coincide with your wants. Yet, it is your needs that any parent would be concerned about for a child. At times, you may feel, I am praying and I mean every word, and I really need this, but I don’t think God is listening to me. Why is God not listening, yet there is a time when we all things come to us. Our time, and HIS time are not the same. Sometimes we may ask for something, and God says, “I think that is something you need, but I don’t think you are quite ready for it. I feel you need some more time. God will place you on “heavenly hold”, and when you are ready, HE will answer that need.Remember, a Father will deliver your needs, above your wants as in the book of Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 6 – 8

Remember, your Father loves you, and HE doesn’t want you to fail. HE wants your trust, your love, and HE wants you to believe. Never is there more of an example of the peace, love and trust God wants to bring to you, than in the book of Psalms, Chapter 107, Verses 28 – 30.

Our Prayer:
At this time like this, when considering how great our Father is; what all our Father can do; and all our Father is~ There is one prayer that comes to my mind that could not be more perfect right now to help us remember, invite, thank, and love our Father any more than HE loves us. This prayer is in the Bible and it can be found in the book of Matthew. Please find your quiet place, light a candle if you would like, as this is a quiet time for you and your Father, and be still as we turn to the book of Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 9 – 13.

Psalm 23 – King James Version:

(1) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
(3) He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
(6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Brenda Stapleton is a professional writer and social media enthusiast. She is the founding columnist of from the park bench, and continues blogging under the same headline today. She is a content writer, technical writer, communication and procedural consultant, who considers it both an honor, and a privilege to have worked with such a diverse group of subject matter experts throughout the years. She feels it is through collaboration and communication with professionals in other programs, where meaningful partnerships are formed and challenging projects are culminated which produce awareness, integration, and increased success in finding solutions to mutual problems.

Brenda is a former primary and secondary educator, with a Louisiana teaching certification from (ULM) University of Louisiana at Monroe. She is a former nurse tech and registered nurse working under the ULM-RN program. She certified through the (AFA) American Fitness Association as a personal trainer, and is a certified law enforcement professional under (POST) Police Officer Standards Training in the State of Louisiana. She is well-versed in the Arts and Sciences, holding a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Arts in the discipline of Criminal Justice with minors in Sociology and Psychology. She has credited graduate work in English and Integrated Learning through Technology and Communication, carried over from her Ph.D. work in Integrating Technology, Learning and Psychology from Grand Canyon University.

and More…personally
Brenda grew up in Columbia, Louisiana in the same house, where her parents still live, today. She began life literally, stumbling every day. She was fitted for her first set of braces on her legs, as a toddler. She would wear braces on her legs, until the age of four, and orthopedic shoes until the age of six. Thinking the past was behind her, she took the world in leaps and bounds, until at the peak of her career, she faced yet another set-back, only this one, left her with a neurological injury that was irreversible. Since then, she has strived continuously for a career, where her passion for creativity would be fueled by the fervor of chasing a sense of sobriety that did not leave her doubtful of a future. Armed with a sense of humor, a purpose in life, and a heart full of dreams, she took the road less traveled, compliments of Robert Frost, and she has learned many things along the way.
She has learned adaptability is her best characteristic, and humility is her worst. She has learned the day is scarier than the night, for in the day you will see the harm that befalls you. She has learned unconditional love is never stronger than in the very young, and as it is in the very old. She has learned no matter what emotion a person is experiencing, a cuddly puppy can make you re-evaluate it all. She has learned the only certainty in life, is death- be ready. She has learned the most experienced emotions are forgiveness, grief and hope, and she has learned that patience is the most taught virtue.
In her free time, Brenda can be found lost in the elements of nature. She enjoys cycling, golfing, swimming, and practicing yoga. Her favorite places to be in this world are at the edge of the sand, with the ocean waves kissing her toes, or chasing her footprints away; or riding a bike through the park under the trees full of multi-colored leaves in the fall, with the wind blowing gently at her face, and is deeply overwhelmed by nature. It’s the fleeting moments when she is caught in a rainstorm, or snowflakes begin to fall, and melt as soon as they touch the warmth of skin, or when watching over a cocoon, as it changes into a butterfly, or a rose bud into bloom, when she feels human, small and meek.
Brenda is a published author of articles and blogs. She is currently writing her first book, but acknowledges her two greatest accomplishments, as the two who call her momma. She is inspired by watching her daughters become individuals, face their giants, and grow in life, while each follows her dreams and searches for a place and a purpose to aspire and grow. With several years behind her, and her children growing into adults, Brenda has taken the time to focus on her purpose. In doing so, she has unpacked the dreams she had placed away for safe keeping, and with a bit of uncertainty of what lies ahead, she sets out on yet another road less traveled, and this time, she says she takes a pen and paper along the way.

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Today’s Scripture

Prayer of Salvation

Jesus died for your sins so that we could spend an eternity with Him and no longer be separated from God. God loves His children, and it is not His desire that any should perish.
Scripture says if we confess with our mouth and mean it with our heart, that our sins will be forgiven and we will be washed clean by the blood of the lamb.
If you desire to have Jesus come into your heart and be the Lord of your life, please repeat (vocally) the following prayer: